In 2011, the United Nations declared October 11 as International Day of the Girlwith the goal “to help galvanize worldwide enthusiasm for goals to better girls’ lives, providing an opportunity for them to show leadership and reach their full potential.”

The youth-led event has grown since its debut in 2012, each year focusing on a theme like gender inequality, child marriage, violence against women and access to education. The 2018 edition's theme is "With Her: a Skilled GirlForce," focusing today's generation of girls preparing to enter a world of work that is being transformed by innovation and automation. While educated and skilled workers are in great demand, roughly a quarter of young people – most of them female – are currently neither employed or in education or training.

International Day of the Girl events are happening all over the world, including right here in the 94941, as Mill Valley Recreation is hosting one on Thursday, Oct. 11 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm.

The free event kicks off with the opportunity to meet a variety of local women- and girl-centric organizations, followed by a 6:30pm screening of Girl Rising (PG13), the 2014 film that "spotlights the unforgettable stories of girls living in the developing world, striving beyond circumstance and overcoming nearly insurmountable odds to achieve their dreams." The film is voiced by acclaimed actresses including Meryl Streep, Kerry Washington, Anne Hathaway and more.